Physical descriptionIs the best known of the Brazilian canids. Crab-eating foxes have a variable coloration, exhibiting a mixture of shades of gray and brown, often with yellowish tones. The ears are short with red tones. The tail is relatively long with long hairs tending to a black colouring.

Habitat and EcologyIt is distributed widely across South America (excluding the Amazon basin), from northern Columbia down as far as northern Argentina. It’s range spans coastal to mountainous regions (up to 3000 meters) and these foxes commonly inhabit open areas, fields and savannah forests. It is a territorial animal and can be seen in groups comprising a monogamous pair of adults and 1-5 young. It is usually a solitary hunter and has only rarely been recorded as hunting in pairs (Brady 1979).Their omnivorous diet varies depending on the season and habitat type but generally includes a large proportion of fruits and small mammals but also consists of arthropods, birds, reptiles and amphibians (Bueno & Motta 2004; Facure & Monteiro-Filho 1996; Facure et al. 2003; Gatti et al. 2006a; Gatti et al. 2006b; Montgomery & Lubin 1978; Pedo et al. 2006; Rocha et al. 2008; Vasconcellos-Neto et al. 2009; Vieira & Port 2007).

Threats and ConservationThere is no specific protective legislation for this species in any country and no specific protection measures are required at present. The main potential threat is from diseases transmitted by domestic dogs. In the Serra da Canastra National Park, Brazil, Crab-eating Foxes raid human refuse dumps in close company with unvaccinated domestic dogs along park boundaries (R. Cunha de Paula pers. comm.).

Michalski, F., Crawshaw, P. G., de Oliveira, T. G., & Fabian, M. E. (2006). Notes on home range and habitat use of three small carnivore species in a disturbed vegetation mosaic of southeastern Brazil. Mammalia, 70, 52-57.